What You Can Do in 60 Hours at Mount Austin, Johor Bahru

Here is a quick guide on how one can spend 3 Days/2 Nights discovering Mount Austin, located in the district of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Put it simply, you can embark on this trip on a Friday afternoon and come back to Singapore on Sunday afternoon.

Let’s start with an introduction of the Mount Austin area. This area has a mixture of  residential properties ranging from terrace homes to semi-detached homes and coupled with shop-office lots. For us travellers, this area is also known for the many famous restaurants, cafes and you will be spoilt for choice with over 30 bubble tea shops. In fact, I feel this area has a Taiwanese and South Korean vibes, making one feel like you are walking along the streets of these countries. Every corner, every turn that I made, were either selling Taiwanese street food or Korean BBQ restaurants. Let’s check it out!

Getting There 

Mount Austin is located a mere 18km away from Johor Immigration Center. The best and easiest way I would recommend is to simply hop onto a Grab car from City Square Shopping Mall. It is only 25 minutes ride (depending on traffic) and it costs around RM20 when I took the ride on a Friday afternoon.

Accommodation 

There are not many international hotel standard to choose from if you plan to stay in Mount Austin area. Perhaps, one of the bigger and better hotel establishment from my research shows Austin Park Hotel is the best bet. It is strategically located close to cafes, entertainment outlets like Karaoke/ Singing outlets and Austin Heights Water & Adventure Park. Here is the view taken from my room, with food outlets literally a stone throw away.

Food

When it comes to food, hipster cafes and Taiwanese-inspired cafes are the attraction here! Be spoilt for choices but fret not, I am here to highlight you some of the best food available and save your stomach space only for the best!

*Street food Lok Lok Trucks

This will never go wrong in Malaysia. Sample Malaysia finest street food, the legendary Lok Lok. Be spoil for the huge varieties that the food truck sells. The best part? These food trucks usually open till early morning 4am! You can get your supper fix!

*The Matjib Korean Restaurant

Address: 12, Jalan Austin Heights 8/7, Taman Mount Austin, 81100.

This place is known for their generous serving of meat when it comes to ordering BBQ Korean meat. BBQ your way like a king in this outlet and enjoy a bowl of pipping hot Korean soup, which to me was the highlight of it. The Kimchi taste superb as well! Recommend for dinner.

*Cheotnun Mount Austin Korean Dessert Cafe.

 Address: 31 Jln Austin Height 8/8, Taman Austin Heights, 81100. Daily 12pm to 12am

Scream if you are bingsu and desserts lover! This place absolutely suits you and you will not regret visiting this outlet for a late night supper since it open till 12am. The star of the menu is the classic Injeolmi Bingsu (RM24.80).

*Platform 9 Fine Dining

Address : No. 1-39A, Jalan Ekoflora 7/3, Taman Ekoflora, 81100

This is one the must visit place if you like theme cafe. What make it better if you are a Harry Potter fan!

Platform 9 is a fine dinning area where their highlight is the magic show performance when one dine during dinner. However, good news is that you can still enjoy and dine in this restaurant in the earlier part of the day , more like high tea as they open operations from 3pm-6pm.

Be sure to be one the first one to pop by and enjoy taking in tons of photos before indulging in the sumptuous food prepared by the chef. High tea set costs RM99 per person.

*Restoran Uncle Pou Wok

Address: 113, Jalan Mutiara Emas 10/19, Taman Mount Austin, 81100. Daily 11:30am to 10pm

Head down  to the local Malaysian cuisine, sample one of the best KL Hokkien Mee in Johor Bahru! Be warn, go there with an empty stomach to enjoy all the delicious food! Recommend dishes that I tried and till now, could not forget the taste includes the must order KL Hokkien Mee, Hakka Yong Tau Fu, Salted egg yolk with bitter gourd.

*High School Kopitiam

Address: 57, Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, 81100 Johor Bahru. Daily 8am to 6pm

Must order food : High School Pork Chop Sandwich (RM12.50) , add on RM0.60 for Charcoal Toast bread which makes it an Instagram-worthy breakfast. Particularly, I like how the cafe take efforts in designing it, brining out the high school feeling as thou one is back to the old school days sitting in a classroom setting. The ambience makes the trip worth it!

*Bai Wan Dao 

Address: 79-01, Jalan Austin Heights 8/5, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru

One of the must try food outlet! A wide range of China dishes cooked in small portions, worth to sample every dish. The price is not expensive, with some portions selling for as low as RM4.  Taste is absolutely fantastic. Go there early to chop the seats! Limited tables available so either you be there early for lunch or dinner time.

*Like Mee Noodle House 

Address: 6, Jln Austin Heights 8/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru

If you love pork & noodles soup, then this is the place for you! Every sip of the soup is heavenly prepared, one could taste the essence of the meat right out from the soup base.

Beside food, there are massage outlets. Pamper  yourself over the weekend in Mount Austin area. After relaxing day of spa, why not head to one of the many Karaoke singing outlets in the vicinity. Saving Tip: Go in the early afternoon to enjoy dirt cheap price!

 With so many activities to do in Mount Austin area, what are you waiting for? Head over here for a weekend getaway!  Below is an itinerary that I planned out for the trip.

Categories: Asia Region